Thermostatically-controlled power-actuated means



I March 12, 1929. F J; RW G 1,704,943

THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED iOWER ACTUATED MEANS Original Filed Dc. 20 2 2 Sheets-Sheet l vE Isa March 12, 1929. F. J. IRVING 1,704,943

THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED POWER ACTUATED MEANS Original Fil'ed Dec. 20. 1920 2 Sheets Sh et 2 WWII/ll;

. QTY w Patented Mar. 12,

UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRAI NK J. IRVINGQ OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO PINES WINTERFRONT COM- PAINY, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

, '1HERMOSTATIGALLY CONTROLLED rownn-nor'ue'rnn MEANS.

Application filed December 20, 1920, Serial 110,432,064. Renewed November 18, 1926.

I This invention relates to a thermostatlcally I controlled power actuated device and particularly to a device oi this kind which is adapted to operate the control and cooling systemsof isfiinternal combustion engines and j to autoinatically maintain the engines at the proper temperature for efficient operation.

Devices for regulating the flow of cooling wwater or air have heretofore been quite gen- 10 erally operated directly by a thermostat, and

since the power of the thermostat used is necessarily limited, these devices have to be constructed to operate with a m inimu'm of This necessitates an \fr iction'al resistance. expensive installation and one which requires frequent adjustment and repair, and because of these disadvantages the use of devices operated directly by thermostats has been limited. It is an object of the present invention to .0 provide a suction actuated thermostatically controlled device for regulating the 'temperature of. internal combustion engines.

It is also an object of this invention to provide power actuated thermostatically controlled means for regulating the flow of cooling fluid throughthe'cooling systems of internal combustion engines. f 7

It is another object of this invention to provide power actuated thermostatically. controlled means for regulating the flow of air through cooling systems.

It is a further objectof this inventionfto provide a device comprising a cylinder containing a piston adapted tobe reciprocated therein by means connec'ted in the cylinder and communicating with a source of sub-atv mospheric pressure, the passage through said communicating means being thermostaticah ly controlled.

to provide a power operated mechanism adapted to be automatically set in operation 7 at a predetermined temperature and cut out of operation at temperatures below said .pre

determined temperature,

Other and furtherim'portant objects or this invention will be apparentfrom the dis closures in the specification and drawings.v IThe nvention- (1n a preferred form) 1s. shown on. the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.-

Onthe-drawin sz' fl' Figure l isalragmentary side elevation with parts in section of an installation em as b gdying' the principles of this invention,

It is an important object of this invention.

ofoooli'ng liquid through the circulating sys- Figure 5 1s a slightly enlarged section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a section on the line 66 of FigureB.

Figure? is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail of the radiator. shutter mechanism. I

. Figure 8' is an enlarged fragmentary section detail showing the rear of the radiator shutters in elevation.

Asshown on the drawings:

The installation of this invention will for purposes of illustration be shown and described herein in connection with the cooling system of an internal combustion engine and the general arrangement of the installaa tion is shown in Figure 1 where the reference numeral 1 represents an internal combustion engine of the ordinary type having an intake manifold 2 and a carburete'r 3 mounted thereon. Fluid for cooling the engine 1 is obtained from a radiator 4 and is circulated through the water jaokets-of-the engine and to saidradiator by means of a pump 5 of the usual type, communication between the radi-v ator 4-, saidpump 5, and the engine 1, being afforded by conduits '6, 7, and 8 which are clearly shown in Figure 1.

Since it is desirable that the engine be brought to an eflicient operating temperature as soon after starting as possible, it is 'neces sary that means be provided for restricting the-flow of water through .the cooling system until the desired temperature is attained and it is also: desirable that means befprovided whereby the circulation of air'through the radiator .4lmaybe cut oil in order that the Water orother cooling fluid therein may quickly attain a high enough temperature for the engine to operate efficiently and in order that this temperature may be maintained duringeool weather;

For 'the purpose of controlling the flow tem a butterfly valve 9 is mounted in the conduit -6, or if desired at any other position or positions in the li uid circulating system to control the flow.o theliquid, onja shaft 10 extending transversely thereof as shown in Figure 6, and the .end 11' we sudehaft 10 inounted-ori stub shafts '13 and extend trans preferably extends outwardly from the conduit6 in order that said shaft and the butter 7 fly valve may be connected with an operating means in a manner to be described hereinafter. v V, 1 1

The circulation of air through the radiator 4 is preferably controlled byjmeans of a 111- ralit y of shutters 12 which are pivotally tween'the upper end of the operating lever 14 and the frame of the radiator- 4 and an automatic power actuated device for niovingsaid shutters into horizontal or open position upon the water in the radiator-reaching a predetermined temperature will now be described.

' Secured to the outside of the'conduit 6 by means ofbrackets17 is a closedcylinder 18 havingapistonor plunger 19 slidably mounted i 'eherein witha piston od or shaft 20 'secured thereto and slid'ably mounted in and ex tending outwardly through a central aperturedboss 21 formed onthe end'of thecylinder. Connected in the other end of the cylinder 18 is a passaged block 22 having ,a balanced sliding valve 23 mounted therein and connected with'the passage in said block by a connection 24: is a conduit 25 which leads to the intake manifold 2 of the engine, thereby connecting the-interior of the cylinder 18 with a region of sub-atmospheric pressure when'the sliding balanced valve 23 is opened.

,Means'are provided for-"opening said sliding balanced valve 23 to connect the'interior of the cylinder l8with the intake manifold 2 of the engine when the liquid passing through conduit 6 has arrived at a predetermined temperature. For this purpose a strip of thermostatic metal 26 formed to conform to {the eirteriorof the conduit 6 is'secured to said conduitby means of screws 27 and has an outw'ardly extending'slotted portion 28 thereof engaged over a. reduced. ortion 29 on the )ntei' end of the valve 23. inte mperature o f the liquid in the conduit 6 willfbe transmitted through said coieduit to the thermostatic strip 26 thereby causing an expansion of said strip and opening the valve 23 to allow communication through the conduit 25 between the interior of the cylin.

der 18, and the intake manifold 20f the engine. The vacuum thus formed the interior of the cylinder reca ss the piston 19 therein to, move toward the :innerend' of the cylinder nsequently, a rise compressing acoiled spring 30WhiOi1t-1S engaged around a piston rod 20 betweenthc end i of the cylinder and a. flanged-washer 31 pinned on said piston rod, this inward motion of the piston-being clearly indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5'. r v

The moveine't of thepisto'n 19 in the cylinder .18 is transmitted through the piston rod "to'the butterfly valve 9 and'the operating lepivoted on the radiator'as shown in Figure, 7 and which actuate's the operating lever 14 to open the shutter against the action of the spring 16 through a pivotallyconnected toggle or link connection 37. T The operation is as follows:

When the engine 1' is'first started and the Water in the circulating system is cooled the shutters 12 and the butterfly valve 9 are held in closedposition by the sprin s 16 and 30 and the balanced valve 23' is hel closed by'the thermostat 26 thereby shutting off communi cation between the manifold 2 and the interior of the cylinder 18. Thus the circulation of cooling liquid andv cooling air isprevented and the engine quickly attains an elficient operating temperature. The cooling liquid in the circulating system of-course also attains this temperature and the heatfrom the liquid is transmitted to the conduit 6, whereby the thermosatic strip 26 expands, and since said thermostat is connected by meansof the extension 28 with the balanced valve 23 said valve 23 is opened by the expansion of the thermostat, The opening of the of the cylinder 18 with the intake manifold2 of the engine and since the pressure in said intake manifoldis less than atmospherica vacuum is created in said cylinder 18 onone .valve 23 of course acts to'connect the interior I side of the piston l9 therebyicausing thepi s- I ton to he'movecl' tothe inner end of the cylinder. ovement of the 'piston 19 is trans mitted through thecrank arm 32 to move the butterfly valve 9 into open position thereby allowing anu'nrestrictedv circulation of cooling liquid, and through the Bowden wire 35 th' the "shutter'operating mechanism to open the shutters 12 thereby allowing a free circulat'ion of cooling'air through the radiator 45. The suction roduced in the manifol'd2 of course acts to old the piston 19 and the valve 9 and shutters 12in the position just described until the conduit 6 again cools sufiiciently to anew the thermostat 26 to contract and close the valve 23 therebycutting off the suction 011 the piston and allowing the valve 9 and the shutters 12 to be agair closed by the action of the springs 30' and 16.

It is thus apparent that this invention provides an eliicient and economical power actuated device for automatically regulating the temperature of the engine by controlling the flow of various cooling mediums. Due ,to

the fact that the device is power operated the.

necessity for exact construction and careful lubrication whichis present in devices operated directly by thermostats is obviated. On account of this construction it is also possible to use a light and inexpensive thermostat which-is easy to install and which maybe readily maintained in proper adjustment.

' lVhil'e the installation of this invention has been shown and described in connection with an automatic temperature controlling system for internal combustion engines, it is also apparent that-the installation might be conveniently used for the automatic operation of many other devices, and it is not purposed to limit the invention to use in connectionwith cooling systems.

J I am aware tliat'numerons details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise necessitated by the prior art;

I claim as my invention: 1. In a temperature controlling apparatus for internal combustion engines, a radiator, shutter means for controllingflow of air about'said radiator and engine, valve means than for controlling. the flow of. fluid within said radiator, means responsive to the running:

condition of the engine to actuate'said valve means and said shuttermeans and thermal means responsive to-enginc temperature for controlling said shutterand valve means.

2'. In a temperature controlling apparatus for internal combustion engines, a radiator,

shutter means for controlling the flow of air about said radiator and eng ne, suction means responsive .to the running condition of the engine for actuating said shutter.

means, valve 'means 'for controlling fiow'of fluid within said radiator and thermal means responsive to engine temperature for control ling saidvalve means and suction means.

' In a temperaturecontrolling apparatus for internal combustion engines, a radiator, a plurality of shutters-for regulating the flow-of air about said radiator and engine,

valveineans for regulating flow of cooling liquid within said radiator, resilient means for biasing said shutters and valve means to closed position and thermal means responsive to engine temperatiire for controlling said shutter means and said valve means.

4. In a temperature controlling apparatus for internal combustion engines, a radiator, a plurality of shutters for regulating the flowof air about said radiator and engine, valve means for regulating flow of cooling liquid within said radiator, suction means responactuate said shutters and valve to open posi tion and thermal means to place "said valve and shutters under control of said suction 5. In a temperature controlling apparatus for internal combustion engines, a radiator, a plurality of shutters for regulating the flow of air about said radiator and engine, valve means for regulating flow of'cooling liquid within said radiator, suction means responsive to the running condition of the engine. to

' sive to the running condition of the engine to actuate said shutters to'open position, operative mechanical connections between said suction means and'said valve means and thermal ineans responsive to engine temperature to control said suction means f 6. In a temperature controlling apparatus- ;tor internal combustion engines, a radiator, a plurality ofshutters for controllingflow-of air therethrough, a chamber having a mov- 'ofi access of cooling mediums to said engine when said engine is still, suction means tending to open said valve and shutters when said engine is in running condition, and thermal means responsive to predetermined engine temperature to actuate said suction means to open said valve and shutters. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subi scribed my name.

FRANK IRVING: 

